A work in Progress
Chapter 11
POV: Laingalad
By: Candy
I was talking to Elrohir when I noticed Haldir pulling another maiden into his arms and dancing extremely close to her. Normally this would not annoy me, but the fact that he was doing this at our betrothal did!
How un-proper it must have looked to anyone who saw. It was inappropriate of him, and it would also look as though I could not keep him interested. Normally I would have ignored this, but with all these elleths around it would surely start up rumours. Wearing a frown on my face I continued to talk to Elrohir, I could nothing about it about now.
"So how do you feel now having taken the first step?" He asked me
"How do you think? Had you helped me out of this, I'm sure I wouldn't be here"
He laughed then said "Had I helped you, I would have been given more time helping the kitchen staff" He stated, this would have been true.
"More like flirting with them, and what do you mean 'more' time?" I questioned
"We got punished when you and Haldir trashed our Ada's study, what were you doing anyway? Having fun? Did the seductive march warden work his charms on you?"
I grinned, he and Elladan were always one to joke and take matters lightly.
"He wished, you should know me better then to say that"
"I know you well enough to say that you would not wear that dress. In fact I dare say that you would not even attend or dance with Haldir, unless there was something in it for you"
"Nay, nothing is in it for me, just something to prove to my parent's" I replied looking at Ada who was currently talking to Elrond.
"You mean your Ada" He stated, I simply nodded "You know he is only doing this out of love for you?" He said.
I nodded, for this was true yet, Ada's words of love and his actions so far I had taken to heart. How it pained me to see him disappointed in me. Elrohir gave me a quick hug before we turned to eye Haldir and Arwen.
"It seems she is lecturing him" Elrohir said "Will you not save him from that?"
"Nay, let her be, hopefully it shall be good for him" I replied as Lady Arwen parted with Haldir and he was pulled into yet another dance.
"Where is the third member of our trio?" I questioned, scanning the room for Elladan.
"Over there with the Elleth, would you like to dance?" He asked. I accepted and for the second time that evening I was pulled into a dance. During the rest of the evening I was required to dance only twice more. Once with Elladan and the next with my Ada.
After this we began to congregate at the main table. Slowly everyone was seated, after quite some time Haldir came and sat himself opposite me. Once everyone was seated we began to dine.
Elrohir sat beside me with Elladan to his left. Next to him at the head of table was Elrond, Lord Glorfindel sat to his right and Arwen beside him. When Haldir finally came and sat himself down between my Ada and Arwen he said "Good evening Aglarebwen" and smiled at me. How many more times must I tell this idiot not to call me that? I decided against correcting him as Ada and Nana sat beside the both of us, I would have to be careful of what I was to say.
"Good evening Haldir" I replied, soon after Elladan came into the conversation and said
"Nice to see you too" and as if they came as a package Elrohir immediately followed.
"They've already forgotten about us. Being so deeply in love! Only have eyes for each other now" I took no offence in those words for all in the conversation knew it was just him lightening the mood.
"That's why you've been talking to Aglarebwen for most of the night" Haldir suddenly said, was this jealousy I had heard coming from the future march warden of Lorien?
Elrohir seemed to follow my chain of thoughts for he asked
"Do I detect a hint of jealousy Mellon nin? My friend" Haldir raised an eyebrow at this and replied
"I'm merely stating the truth" the fact that he had been watching me was unnerving. I was just about to say something when Nana bent over and whispered something into my ears.
"Do not let Elrohir talk to Haldir in such a tone. Your Ada shall not be pleased," She said, playing me like a puppet, just because I took up a challenge.
"Now why would he have the need for Jealousy? After all he has an eternity to talk to me," I decided on saying.
"That's a great way to scare an elf, you know that" Elladan said
"But he is Haldir! He could never be scared! He is undaunted in the face of strife! He is fearless and brave!" and Elrohir was supposed to by me friend? Why do people always go on about this elf as though he was something great?
"But this is Laingalad! A name that could strike fear in many a heart! He is brave but is he brave enough?" I let out a laugh at this humorous comment; the twins seriously were the funniest elves I've ever met.
"Yet none here have fled yet? Perhaps they should fear you two, for I have yet to see two elves with more humour then you" at this point Arwen came into the conversation.
"If you can call it humour! I'm more partial to calling it their idiocy"
It was interesting to see that Arwen always managed to tone down her elder brothers.
"'Tis interesting to see that your little sister has the power to put you into place"
"If only we all had such a power, we may just live through the night." Haldir suddenly said for the first time since I spoke
"You don't have to live with them!" Arwen commented
"Nay, that's why for your sanity you run away to Lorien as often as possible." Haldir replied, how dare he! These were my friends he spoke of, and at the current moment he was talking as if they were stark raving mad, and a menace to be with, light talk or not.
"Now, now Haldir, if they are as corrupt as you two keep saying then does this mean to say that I am also as corrupted" I asked
He replied with a frown "I didn't say that"
Elrohir mirrored my thoughts ""But you inferred it"
In response to this Haldir said "Yes, well I suppose tripping me up....." Oh no, please don't say this. My eyes widened in shock as he continued, I glared quickly at Ada then to Nana. Fortunate for me they were both deeps within another conversation.
"...Covering me in leaves, and mud before hanging me upside down, dropping me into a lake and then pushing me back into it could be taken as...corrupted. I suppose you truly are a menace to society!" He finished. This was when Elrohir came in and said
"A hugely amusing menace if you please!" Well at least someone found it funny.
"Wait. What misfortunate do you speak of Haldir? Your mishap does suit our style of prank..." It was funny to see the puzzled look on his face. At least one of the twins recognised 'their' style of prank after using it for so many centuries. How I yearn for the younger days....
".... Yet I remember not committing it. Do tell us, who did such an audacious act towards this righteous elf? They will suffer promptly as we did not perform this prank on you sooner!" Holding in the laughter I let out a little grin. By now neither the twins, Haldir or myself were eating. I was more worried about what these 3 would say and what snippet of the conversation had drifted to my Ada's ears.
"You mistake me my friends! I was talking to Aglarebwen! It was her who performed such an 'audacious' act!" Haldir exclaimed
"Fear not! Haldir we'll soon have her cleansed of our character, and transformed into a fair elleth such as her nana" The shear thought of it sent shivers down my spine.
"I some how doubt that very much Elrohir, after all I learnt from the best, and too long have I been in the presence of you two"
"I feel so comforted," Haldir said
"I advise you not to be much at ease. If Laingalad has our traits, she had the ability to strike when the guard is down. Expect more mishap in the future, especially when she had been wronged. Thank the Valar we will not be feeling her wrath!" I found this highly amusing, as rarely did I perform a prank without them
"MY wrath? I have a wrath now? How very comforting to know that you wish to be rid of me so soon, after all this time Elrohir" I asked
"Rid of you, nay, spared of your accurate pranks? That does sound promising" Elrohir replied
"So glad to relieve you of such a burden, " Haldir said, sarcasm coated his voice.
"So now I'm a burden?"
At this moment Elrohir placed a comforting arm around my shoulder and said
"Of course not! We love being saddled with you,"
"Careful she's engaged now, Haldir may attack you in a jealous rage!" Said Elladan, sending an image of Haldir in full rage across my head, this was highly entertaining. I found that I could relax a lot more in the presence of these two, regardless of the fact that my parent's sat so close by.
"Why would I do that? You've known each other since you were elflings!" Haldir commented.
This was a surprise; Lord Elrond joined our little conversation. "It is more customary for the engaged to be so attached at their own betrothal." Well I wondered, since when in this age did it become customary for elleths to be forced into marriage?"
"Well unfortunately Haldir is on the other side of the table, unless you would like him to upset all of the food. I was simply fulfilling his duty."
Oh how witty Elrohir was, so far this whole conversation had made my little challenge so much easier. All I really had to do for the rest of the evening was sit and listen, then perhaps talk to a few guests, before retiring for the night.
"It is not a duty you are meant to undertake! Now take your arm away" Ordered Lord Glorfindel. It was interesting to see the Lord join such a trivial conversation.
"You know you're starting to sound like Erestor" Arwen said after finishing the conversation with Lord Elrond
"What a compliment" Commented Elladan
"What a burden!" Elrohir added
"What an insult!" Lord Glorfindel replied dryly. This conversation was going nowhere, and most were hardly touching their food.
"How about we dine and let not this food go to waste, whilst changing the topic at the same time?" I suggested
" Can't you see we are all smothering the bride?" Elladan jested
The bride? I was not going to be the bride just yet. I mean this was only my betrothal; I had yet to be married! And hopefully it wasn't anytime soon. Annoyed with what Elladan had just said I took Elrohir's arm off my shoulders. In response to this Elrohir said, "Forgive us Laingalad. We will let you dine in solace. You have been eyeing the roasted bird all night."
"I would eye anything to take my gaze away from you lot"
"Here, here, Haldir could you pass me that platter of salad please?" Lady Arwen said. I noted she only ever said anything in this conversation to tone it down or to steer it into a more appropriate topic. The rest of the evening went by dreadfully slow. I had a few more interesting conversations with Lord Elrond and his son's, then a few with my Nana's mundane friends. Though perhaps the worst was with my Ada and his fellow advisors. How tedious that was.
At around midnight I retired to my room, took of the hideous dress and flung on a nightgown.
At last the day was over, and as always I had beaten my Nana. Now for the rest of my life to beat. Soon, well hopefully not too soon, I will have to move, and then there was the wedding, the marriage, the living with him. How I was going to cope only the Valar would know. I shall take one day at a time, well really I should enjoy my time here, and there was that fact had still to 'thank' Haldir for making this evening to unbearingly tedious and bothersome. Well that can wait; I'd rather rest for now. Another day, another drama, life was going so swimmingly...Not.
A/n Well I don't have much time to reply to reviews presently. My older brother is sitting by me bugging me to get off so I'll try you do this quickly…
Dakota: Yes Haldir is trying, Aglarebwen is weird, I dunno, has a warped mind completely.
Haldir's heart and soul: Nah! He's much too noble to do such a thing.
Me: Yes, it's not as long as the previous chapters and the one after this is only 5 ½ pages long.
nap-003: They won't be getting married for a long time.
chibi: No the wedding won't be coming for quite some time. Oh the first person to mention the wedding night! ;) lol Frufru is writing that particular scene.
PiXiE